64 bit applications

[mpholic]

i have been using programs like autoGK, mkvmerge, handbrake, makemkv, etc for awhile now and they have all been the 32 bit versions. I have recently noticed that most, if not all of the apps are now available in 64 bit versions. Is there any real speed advantage to using the 64 bit versions. I dont consider a 10 - 20% increase an advantage, but 50% would be awesome. Can the 64 bit versions reside on my computer along with their 32 bit cousins without any conflicts?

I use a Intel core i5 with Windows 7 64bit laptop.

Thanks for any advice.

[jagabo]

Is there any real speed advantage to using the 64 bit versions.

No. The only real advantage of 64 bit code is the ability to use more memory (more than 2-3 GB). None of those apps needs that much memory.

One place where I do see 64 bit code running (as opposed to crashing) is when using AviSynth on high definition video and using memory hungry filters like McTemporalDenoise, QTGMC, etc. -- especially when using more than one of them along with an h.264 encoder (which can also use a fair amount of memory.

[enim]

Just an addition to above reply, there is just a marginal gain in encoding speed, just marginal not big difference between x86 32bit and x86_64 64bit compiles. Where as x86 32 bit compile can run on both machines 32bit CPUs and 64 bit CPUs. Where as x86_64 64 bit compiles need 64bit CPUs.

[Detmek]

Every CPU made in last 8-9 years supports 64-bit instructions. Aside from ability to use more then 2GB memory per process, some of 64-bit applications run faster then 32-bit versions.
If 64-bit version runs without problems there is not really any reason not to use it.
x264-64bit CLI should be 10-15% faster.

[neomaine]

Every CPU made in last 8-9 years supports 64-bit instructions. ...r.

True, but you also need a 64-bit OS to be able to run those 64-bit programs.